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To land one of the coveted spots on the US Open ball crew, applicants must survive a rigorous selection process and a demanding physical tryout designed to test speed, endurance, and elite coordination.
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The Selection Process
The journey to the court at Flushing Meadows is highly competitive, with thousands of hopefuls narrowing down to a final crew of about 300 to 350 members.
- The Open Tryouts: Every year in June, the USTA hosts open tryouts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Anyone 14 years or older can register.
- The Rookie vs. Veteran Split: The selection is brutal for newcomers. The USTA typically brings back roughly 70% to 80% of veterans from the previous year. This leaves only about 60 to 80 open slots for thousands of new “rookie” applicants.
- The Callback: Top performers from the open tryouts are invited back for a second, intensive round of evaluations before final selections are made in July.
What Are the Tryout Physical Requirements?
The tryouts are not a casual game of catch. Evaluators treat it like a professional sports combine. Prospects are graded on specific physical metrics:
- The Dead Sprint: Applicants must demonstrate explosive linear speed. You are timed on your ability to sprint across the court, scoop up a moving tennis ball cleanly without fumbling, and clear the area immediately.
- Agility and Posture: You must be able to sprint, stop on a dime, and crouch or kneel for long periods. Standing up straight or looking sluggish is an automatic elimination.
- The 30-Yard Laser Throw: Ball crew members at the back of the court must possess elite arm strength and accuracy. You are tested on your ability to throw a tennis ball flat, fast, and on a direct line across the entire length of the court (roughly 100 feet) to another crew member without it bouncing or rolling.
- The Rolling Precision: For crew members stationed at the net, throwing is forbidden; they must roll. Tryouts test your ability to roll a tennis ball perfectly flat along the court surface, directly into a partner’s hands, without it hopping or veering off course.
- Peripheral Awareness: You must keep your eyes on the players while tracking live tennis balls traveling at over 130 mph, avoiding getting hit while clearing the court in seconds.
How Much Do The Ball Crew Members Earn?
For the 2026 US Open, ball crew members earn $18 to $19 per hour.
Unlike other Grand Slam tournaments like Wimbledon or the French Open, which rely primarily on unpaid teenage volunteers, the US Open treats the role as professional, paid employment.
Because it is a paid position tracking just above New York City’s minimum wage, there is no age cap, allowing the 300-member crew to feature a mix of teenagers and adults.
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In addition to their hourly pay, ball crew members receive excellent perks, including a daily food allowance and the coveted opportunity to keep their official, premium Ralph Lauren tournament uniforms.
A ball crew member working the full two weeks of the tournament takes home an estimated $2,000 to $2,500 in total gross earnings. This estimate assumes an average workload of 8 to 10 hours per day over the 14-day tournament, accumulating roughly 110 to 130 total hours.
Because the tournament runs long days, often stretching into late-night sessions under the lights, some crew members can rack up additional overtime hours, pushing their total pay even higher.
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This story was originally published September 13, 2026 at 11:00 AM.